Advocacy

​If making Connecticut a great place to bike and walk matters, we can't keep it a secret! It all comes down to making our voices heard, whether at the local, state or federal government level.

Federal, state and local government policies and programs affect our choices and how we live on a day-to day basis -- such as whether active transportation options like walking and cycling are safe, attractive choices, or not.

Bike Walk Connecticut focuses on getting good active transportation laws, policies and funding at the state goverment level.

​Crosswalk LegislationCurrent Connecticut crosswalk legislation requires motorists to yield to pedestrians “in” crosswalks. Prior to 2007, motorists in Connecticut were required to stop for people “at” crosswalks. BWCT believes it is very important to amend the crosswalk law to its pre-2007 statutory language. For this victory to have meaning, however, outreach and education will be critical. Action: BWCT will work alongside the CT Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Board (BPAB), and other partners to advance acrosswalk legislation amendment.

Trail Bond FundingIn January of 2016, the Bond Commission allocated $7 million to build, expand, or enhance recreational trails. Aft er the recent, protracted budget deliberations, funding for additional grants no longer exists (although a placeholder does).If restored, this bonding would be the only source of funding available in 2018 in Connecticut that could beinvested in a wide variety of recreational trail projects, including feasibility and design. Action: BWCT will work with CT Forest & Park Association, East Coast Greenway, Farmington Valley Trails Council, and others to restore bonding for the CT Recreational Trails Program.

E-Bike LegislationConnecticut lacks legislation specifically classifying or regulating e-bikes (bicycles with electric motors). Thisleads to gray areas and confusion. The Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Board recommends a legislative fix that isbased on a decade of research, mirrors that of other states, and permits local regulation of e-bike use on trails.Action: BWCT will work with BPAB to advance e-bike legislation.

Support Partners on Additional Advocacy BWCT is eager to support our partners on additional advocacy efforts. Topics may include coordinating on safety and education campaigns, speed limit policy changes, and Complete Streets advocacy, to name a few. Action: We will work on an issue-by-issue basis to evaluate opportunities to assist our partners.

Adopt Mode Share Goals for Biking and WalkingIf you’d like to see the headline “ConnDOT Announces Goal to Triple Travel by Bicycling and Walking in Connecticut by 2020,” that’s what mode share goals are about. To really move the needle for biking and walking, Connecticut should adopt explicit annual statewide mode share goals for bicycling and walking as modes of active transportation, with targets for 2018, 2020, 2025, and 2030; establish a baseline by end 2016; and conduct annual household surveys thereafter. Massachusetts, California have set mode share goals. So has Portland, OR, which aims to “create the conditions to make bicycling more attractive than driving for trips of three miles or less.” Connecticut should adopt similar goals.

Align Other Relevant State PlansConnecticut needs to do a better job of aligning relevant state policies, plans, programs—and especially their execution—with complete streets and active transportation goals and policies. Our plans for climate action, transit oriented development, public health, smart growth and Plans of Conservation and Development, greenways, and tourism all need to address active transportation--not as an after-thought, but as a significant part of the plan. Whenever transportation is an overlapping issue, bike ped advocates need to make sure that everybody is pulling in the same direction.

Ensure Dedicated State FundingWith Let’s Go CT! calling for $101 million in bike ped funding over five years, Connecticut is making progress on dedicating state funding to bike ped projects. As advocates, we want to see more examples of dedicated state funding for bike ped projects and programs, especially those focused on safety, and eliminating network gaps and increasing access for bicycle networks.

Hold Governments Accountable for Complete StreetsOur complete streets law and state, regional and municipal policies are only as good as their implementation. As advocates, we need to hold state, regional and municipal governments accountable for implementing complete streets law and policy.

Enforce the Vulnerable User LawConnecticut enacted a vulnerable user law in 2014 but to the best of our knowledge, has never enforced it. As advocates, we need to investigate obstacles to enforcing the law and remove them.

Lead by ExampleWe’d like to see Connecticut state government leading by example on active transportation through programs for state government. Possibilities include providing bicycle parking for employees and visitors at state offices, promoting bike commuting beyond Bike to Work Day, and having other agencies follow DEEP’s lead in becoming accredited Bike Friendly Businesses.

Set Goals for Reducing Cyclist and Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities and CrashesIn connection with our State Highway Safety Plan, Connecticut should set specific annual goals for reducing and eliminating cyclist and pedestrian traffic fatalities and crashes. Bike Walk Connecticut would like to see the state join the multi-national road traffic safety project known as Vision Zero. Vision Zero aims to end traffic deaths and injuries on our streets and roads. No level of fatality on our streets and roads is inevitable or acceptable. Our Share the Road campaign is our primary public education effort. While it clearly plays into reducing cyclist and pedestrian fatalities, our Share the Road campaign is not the same as advocating for the state to set goals for reducing fatalities.

Monitoring Legislative Proposals: As always, Bike Walk Connecticut must also be on the look out for legislative proposals—good and bad—during the legislative session and respond accordingly.

Some of our prior advocacy work includes:

Getting the 2015 Bike Bill passed

Getting the Vulnerable User Bill passed in 2014. We supported advance legislation to protect "vulnerable users" of the roadways each year since 2010. The bill was usually fairly well supported, but but was not brought to a vote in one chamber or another in several legislative sessions. We got the bill passed in 2014.

Getting the 2008 3-Foot Safe Passing law passed, which requires drivers to provide a safe distance of at least 3 feet when overtaking a cyclist.

While federal transportation funding programs have been in flux, we provided updates to our members and urge them to contact their elected officials.

Additionally, we work at the state agency level with our Departments of Transportation, Energy & Environmental Protection, Public Health and Economic & Community Development to advance the interests of our growing ranks of cyclists and pedestrians.